In today's media and political landscape, racial stereotyping does not always appear as open prejudice. More often, it works through assumptions that shape how events are understood before the facts are fully known.

In this episode of Facts Tell, we examine how racial stereotypes can fill information gaps, influence public reaction and even shape institutional decision making. From the 2024 Southport stabbings in the UK to the prosecution of MIT professor Gang Chen during the US Department of Justice's China Initiative, we look at how pre-existing assumptions can turn uncertainty into narrative, and narrative into real-world consequences.

Watch the full episode, share your thoughts in the comments and follow for more analysis on how information is framed and contested in global public discourse.